V a l l e y V i e w s

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V a l l e y V i e w s A m o n t h l y p u b l i c a t i o n o f V a l l e y U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h 4 2 0 1 A s h w o r t h R o a d W e s t D e s M o i n e s, I A 5 0 2 6 5 O F F I

1 V a l l e y V i e w s A m o n t h l y p u b l i c a t i o n o f V a l l e y U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h A s h w o r t h R o a d W e s t D e s M o i n e s, I A O F F I C E P H O N E : O F F I C E F A X : W e b s i t e : w w w. v a l l e y u m c. o r g O F F I C E H O U R S : M o n - T h u r s 9 : 0 0 a m - 3 : 0 0 p m F r i d a y 9 : 0 0 a m n o o n V o l u m e 44, I s s u e 2 F e b r u a r y 1, W o r s h i p : 9 : 3 0 a m C h i l d r e n & Y o u t h S u n d a y S c h o o l : 1 0 : 4 5 a m A d u l t S u n d a y S c h o o l : 1 1 : 0 0 a m W e a r e h a n d i c a p a c c e s s i b l e a n d c h i l d c a r e i s p r o v i d e d. My friends, Thinking is difficult, that s why most people judge. C.G. Jung Questions of leadership come up from time to time in our lives. Perhaps it is your leadership in the family or local community. It is not always easy to apply given a variety of circumstances, history and the people with whom one works. As I write this I am reminded of a fantastic and unique event...the inauguration of the President. However, there is not much peace it seems in the current change. Some, and it never takes many, question the current change. Some have chosen to boycott and do all they can to not move forward. It is difficult. As I look at our government I am reminded we live in a rich and diverse nation that nurtures hope and care for our neighbor. Your example, my example and our example is essential to this unity as it is in the local community and organizations we are members of, and of course the church. Thankfully our leadership is in Christ as Paul wrote in I Corinthians 1, For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being served, it is the power of God. Shalom, Pastor Ken Church Staff Pastor Kenneth Ferguson kferguson@valleyumc.org Admin. Coordinators Sheila Madsen office@valleyumc.org Anne Elly aelly@valleyumc.org Choir Director David Rozendaal Handbell Director Lynelle Meyer Organist Karen Hutzell Admin Council Chair Phyllis Pearson Lay Leader Mike Hommer Financial Secretary Rose Donati Treasurer Ronda Hollensbe Valley Views Editor Sheila Madsen Custodian Tom Clyne FEBRUARY LECTIONARY February 5 Isaiah 58:1-9a, (9b-12) Psalm112: Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) Matthew 5:13-20 February 12 Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8 I Corinthians 3:1-9 Matthew 5:21-37 February 19 Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 Psalm 119:33-40 I Corinthians 3:10-11, Matthew 5:38-48 February 26 Exodus 24:12-18 Psalm 99 2 Peter 1:16-21 Matthew 17:1-9 Next VV Deadline: February 21, 2017

P a g e 2 MISSION AND OUTREACH DMARC Food Pantry Thank you for your generosity and to Wayne and Milly Blewitt for faithfully delivering the items to DMARC each month!

PERSONAL CARE ITEM DRIVE Together we sent 19toothbrushes, 15 tubes of toothpaste, 50 deodorants, other much-needed items to West Des Moines Human Services as a result of our December collections.

During February, please consider providing toilet paper in the tubs located in the mission central area in the St. Andrews Fellowship Hall.

There also is a great need for diapers, sizes 5 and 6.

opportunity at Bethel Mission. The Bethel Mission started in 1915 and is celebrating their 100th anniversary. Our youth group participated in Make a Bed ~ Keep Them Fed.

2 P a g e 2 MISSION AND OUTREACH DMARC Food Pantry Thank you for your generosity and to Wayne and Milly Blewitt for faithfully delivering the items to DMARC each month! $125 Move the Food Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of the month. COG a coalition of West Des Moines churches actively and collaboratively involved in Christian community service since the 1960s. PERSONAL CARE ITEM DRIVE Together we sent 19toothbrushes, 15 tubes of toothpaste, 50 deodorants, other much-needed items to West Des Moines Human Services as a result of our December collections. At the end of January, Larry will transport the bar soap, shaving cream and other donations collected during the month. During February, please consider providing toilet paper in the tubs located in the mission central area in the St. Andrews Fellowship Hall. While any item is welcome at any time, here is a list of target items for upcoming months to help with your planning March: laundry detergent; and April: deodorant. There also is a great need for diapers, sizes 5 and 6. VALLEY UMC YOUTH FELLOWSHIP PARTNERS WITH WDM UMC YOUTH FOR HANDS-ON MISSION OPPORTUNITY This past week the Valley UMC Youth Fellowship, along with the youth from West Des Moines UMC, had an amazing opportunity at Bethel Mission. The Bethel Mission started in 1915 and is celebrating their 100th anniversary. Our youth group participated in Make a Bed ~ Keep Them Fed. We joined with about 20 youth from West Des Moines Youth Group and provided bed sheets, pillows, and large cans of food. The youth made the bed with the man that is staying at the mission and then we prayed over the bed. The kids are encouraged to pray for these men as they are going through a one year drug or alcohol treatment program. The night ended with some of the men talking to the youth about what got them into this situation and how this program is helping them get their life back on track. Rose Donati Cindy Chamberlin Women at the Well Ministry Our nation and new leadership FEBRUARY BRUNCH PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF BIBLES FOR WOMEN AT THE WELL See you on February 5!

P a g e 3 REACHING OUT AT VALLEY UMC JANUARY CFUM MEAL AT TRINITY UMC The Missions Committee prepared and served the January meal at Trinity for those in need.

Helping prepare and serve were Deb Stensrud, Trae Stensrud, Cindy and Les Ottervanger, Teresa Cleveland, Mike and and Lynda Hommer.

LENTEN STUDY Adam Hamilton s CREED 6 Week Study Beginning Wednesday, February 22 7:00 p.m. Pommrehn Lounge Sign the Connect if you plan to attend. Books are $14.

Some questions we are looking at in our exploration stage: WHY do we want to have a contemporary service? WHAT do we want it to look like? WHERE do we want it to be?

(Please note: An initial meeting was held on January 28, please watch for future meetings and updates.

3 P a g e 3 REACHING OUT AT VALLEY UMC JANUARY CFUM MEAL AT TRINITY UMC The Missions Committee prepared and served the January meal at Trinity for those in need. They served 99 hungry people and those attending loved the meal! The Menu was Taco Soup, Baguettes, relishes, green salad, and brownies. Helping prepare and serve were Deb Stensrud, Trae Stensrud, Cindy and Les Ottervanger, Teresa Cleveland, Mike and and Lynda Hommer. Next Up: February-Music Group March-Men s Group April-Leadership Team Contact Deb Stensrud or any member of the Mission Team if you would like to help with these meals. LENTEN STUDY Adam Hamilton s CREED 6 Week Study Beginning Wednesday, February 22 7:00 p.m. Pommrehn Lounge Sign the Connect if you plan to attend. Books are $14.00 Are you interested in having a different style worship option? Would you like to be involved in planning how a contemporary service at Valley UMC might look? Some questions we are looking at in our exploration stage: WHY do we want to have a contemporary service? WHAT do we want it to look like? WHERE do we want it to be? WHEN do we want to offer the service? WHO do we want to lead it? WHO do we expect/want to attend? HOW can we make it happen? HOW can we as a church support it? Any and all ideas are welcome! (Please note: An initial meeting was held on January 28, please watch for future meetings and updates.) If you have ideas, write them down on the sheets available at the soundbooth and drop them in the basket. If you have questions, please contact Lynelle Meyer, Worship Chair Advent Mission Summary Heifer International: $1955 Missionary Larry Kies: $ Women at the Well: $1080 WDM Gift Cards: $150 Thank you to everyone for their caring and generosity this 2016 Advent Season. SCOUTING SUNDAY February 5, 2017 Join Valley UMC and our Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts as we celebrate Scouting. Please be sure to wear or bring in keepsakes when they were in scouts, Girl or Boy Scouts. Any questions please contact Jaci Vega at vegadynasty@gmail.com.

SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION By Kayla Phalen This trip has been amazing so far. We had a 12 hour layover in Zurich, Switzerland and were able to go out on the town and have lunch and look around.

We had some troubles with strikes so our program was only seven school days instead of ten, but that was okay.

4 SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION By Kayla Phalen This trip has been amazing so far. We had a 12 hour layover in Zurich, Switzerland and were able to go out on the town and have lunch and look around. The first flight from Boston was only 7 hours, but our connecting flight to Johannesburg was 12 hours and that was a little tougher (haha). We had some troubles with strikes so our program was only seven school days instead of ten, but that was okay. Since it is summer time here, (sunny and 85 degrees almost every day in the Southern Hemisphere) they started back to school the day after our program ended. I ended up teaching community engagement with tenth graders, 11 boys and one girl. The students were in charge of planning two community activities for us to partake in during the program and they choose to visit the Mamelodi Hospital and an AIDS orphanage. Despite most of the kids starting at a remedial reading level at best, we were still able to have in depth and genuine discussions in class. We started each class with a small reading from the gospel, followed by time for individual reflection and journaling. Afterwards we would commence and have a group discussion about the student's interpretations and I and my co-teacher were both surprised by how much our 14 and 15 year old boys were opening up! I had two co-teachers by the way, one named Charlotte who is a senior at Cornell and then another man named Mack from Mamelodi. The group I came with was split between two campuses, East and West, with enrollment being around 250 and 45 respectively. I was at the West campus and was able to form much closer friendships with my kids than the co-teachers at the East since the class sizes were smaller. Back at Kilnerton, a church community we've been staying in, we've had nightly meetings where we've been sharing our testimonies and discussing communication and leadership skills. We ended our program on Tuesday and drove around the game park for five hours to see the animals. Didn't get to see any lions but did get up close and personal with some baby zebras and a bunch of giraffes. Today we have just been relaxing at the mall and will be heading to the University of Pretoria to hit the gym here shortly. We're going to a celebratory Bria (party) with Mamelodi Initiative staff as a celebration of a job well done. Tomorrow morning we will be departing Kilnerton and will be staying at a family getaway kind of thing called Klein Kariba until we leave. It's got a big trampoline park just for me to show off my gymnastics skill so you could say I'm a little stoked. It's also got a waterfall, zipline and cliff diving (that I will be supportively watching from afar) so I'm sure we'll all have a great time. We fly out Sunday evening at 10 p.m. and have a five hour layover in Frankfurt, Germany before flying back to Boston. I'll have plenty of pictures to share with you once I'm back with my laptop in the US. Thank you again to everyone who supported me in order for me to come on this trip, it was an absolutely amazing experience that I wouldn't have had without you. I ask for your continued travel prayers as we transition back to school life in the US (and the freezing cold). God Bless! REACHING UP, REACHING OUT, REACHING IN At Valley UMC we re REACHING UP to experience a bold, passionate, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ, REACHING OUT to witness through nurture and service, and REACHING IN to challenge ourselves toward discipleship and spiritual growth.

P a g e 5 The Valley UMC s Men s Group meets for fellowship, video study and discussion in the Valley UMC St. Andrews Fellowship Hall. Meetings run from 7:30-8:45 a.m. All Valley UMC men and guests are invited.

Les Ottervanger (lottervanger@aol.com) or Perry Meyer (meyerp@ihaonline.org) UMW CIRCLES Faith Circle will meet on Tuesday, February 7 at 12:30 p.m. in the Pommrehn Lounge.

THANK YOU NOTE: Thanks so much to the Valley UMC family for your love, support and friendship during my time in West Des Moines.

Riverside Dr #708, Memphis, TN 38103 pinetreegal56@yahoo.

m. All groups or individuals are invited to join the Men s group in bringing a crockpot of chili or soup to the church at 4:45 p.m. that day to enter the cook-off.

Guests can then vote for their favorite by making a cash or check donation to Valley UMC and putting it in the envelopes by the chili.

This year s money will help fund Valley UMC needs, but have not been specifically identified. The All Church Birthday Party will then start at 6:00 p.m. Tables will be decorated for each month of the year to have a church-wide birthday celebration.

com if you have questions. It s that time of the year again when the weather can disrupt our activities here at the church.

5 P a g e 5 The Valley UMC s Men s Group meets for fellowship, video study and discussion in the Valley UMC St. Andrews Fellowship Hall. Meetings run from 7:30-8:45 a.m. All Valley UMC men and guests are invited. Join us for Andy Stanley s Who Needs God? Upcoming 2017 schedule: Saturday, February 11 Sunday, February 12 (5:00 p.m. Chili and Soup Challenge) Saturday, February 25 Saturday, March 11 Questions? Les Ottervanger (lottervanger@aol.com) or Perry Meyer (meyerp@ihaonline.org) UMW CIRCLES Faith Circle will meet on Tuesday, February 7 at 12:30 p.m. in the Pommrehn Lounge. The Searchers Circle is on Winter Break and will meet again on April 6, THANK YOU NOTE: Thanks so much to the Valley UMC family for your love, support and friendship during my time in West Des Moines. If you re ever in the Mid-South, would love to reconnect. And, my guest bedroom and I appreciate the chance to host guests! Janice Keene 717 S. Riverside Dr #708, Memphis, TN pinetreegal56@yahoo.com VALLEY UMC MEN S GROUP CHILI/SOUP CHALLENGE The Valley UMC Men s group is sponsoring its annual Soup/Chili Challenge on Sunday, February 12 at 5:00 p.m. All groups or individuals are invited to join the Men s group in bringing a crockpot of chili or soup to the church at 4:45 p.m. that day to enter the cook-off. All church members and guests are invited to join in at 5:00 p.m. and enjoy the many options of chili and soups. Guests can then vote for their favorite by making a cash or check donation to Valley UMC and putting it in the envelopes by the chili. The top money winner is the champion! Nearly $1700 was raised at the 2016 Chili Challenge. This year s money will help fund Valley UMC needs, but have not been specifically identified. The All Church Birthday Party will then start at 6:00 p.m. Tables will be decorated for each month of the year to have a church-wide birthday celebration. Watch for the sign up sheet posted outside the church office. This is always a great family and church family time! Please contact Jaci Vega at vegadynasty@gmail.com if you have questions. It s that time of the year again when the weather can disrupt our activities here at the church. If the West Des Moines schools are closed for the day or close early, all Valley UMC activities for the day and evening are cancelled FLOWER CHART Sign up outside the church office if you would like to provide flowers for worship in Contact the church office or WE team member if you have questions. STIR WEEKEND Sharing Talents, Interests and Resources February 24-25, :00 pm Friday 9:00 am-3:00 pm Saturday St. Andrews Hall Contact Lynelle Meyer for more information.

V a l l e y V i e w s

V a l l e y V i e w s A m o n t h l y p u b l i c a t i o n o f V a l l e y U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h 4 2 0 1 A s h w o r t h R o a d W e s t D e s M o i n e s, I A 5 0 2 6 5 O F F I C